Envelope machine



May .13, 1924. 1,493,949

F. E. -ARROUQUIER ENVELQPE Mgcm Filed aan. 2. 1922 5 sheets-sheet 1 E l VvE/vrai? WITNESS May 13, 1924. 1,493,949

F. E. ARRUQU|ER` ENVELOPE MAEHINE Filed am. 25. 1922 5 sheets-sheet 2 /NVENTOR WITNESS BY MMP( Y l @maw TMF/VHS May 13, 1924. 1,493,949

F. E. ARRQUQUIER ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed Jn. '25. 1.922 5v Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTGI? w/T/ve-ss 5V K View HTTORNEYS Patented May i3, llgfi.

STTES PATENT oFFlcE..

FREDERICK E. ARR-OUQUIER, OF XVORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO WHIT- ING-PATTERSON COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ENVELOPE MACHINE.

Application led January 25, 1922.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK E. AnnoUQUrnn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Worcester, county of ilVorcestcr, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelope Machines, of which the following` is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to machines adapted for the production of what are commercially known as non-addressing` or window envelopes, that is, envelopes having an opening in the face covered by a piece of transparent or translucent paper through which the address on the contents of the envelope may be'.

read.

A principal object of my invention is tc provide in a machine adapted for the production of envelopes of the character aforesaid, means whereby the piece of transparent or translucent paper, or patch as it is known in the art, will be positively and forcibly applied to the gummed envelope blank in such manner and at such a point inthe cycle of operations employed in the completion of the envelope as to insure its positive adherence to the blank withoutv wrinkling or drawing so that in the completed envelope the patch and the blank will be securely affixed together and the lpatch present a smooth and non-wrinkled appearance.

A further object of my invention isA the provision in a machine for making window envelopes, of a creasing plunger of peculiar construction and adapted for transferring an individual patch from a point above .the level of the creasing table to a point adjacent the bottom of the folding box or trap, the patch during its descent being maintained out of contact with the subjacent envelope blank preceding the plunger, and means to effectively and positively apply the patch to the blank as it rests upon the bottom of the folding box preparatory to the retraction of the creasing plunger and the operation `of the folding fingers.

A still further object of my invention is the provision in a machine of the character aforesaid of improvedv means for cutting off the individual patches as needed from a continuous web of transparent or Y translucent paper, as well as means for ef- Serial No. 531,582.

iication of machines of this`general type` with a view to minimizing the time required Vfor repairs and adjustments as Well as an .improved method of forming outlook envelopes. n

My invention further includes all of the other various objects and novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more specifically described or claimed.

` For the purpose of attaining the objects of my invention I provide an ordinary reciprocating Aenvelope machine of suitable construction with certain means and instrumentalities including means for intermittently feeding a continuous strip or web of transparent or glassine paper, means for severing the web into predetermined lengths to form theindividualpatches, and means for transferring each individual patch to a position in proper vertical registration with the gummed blank as it rests above the creasing plate, as well as with a peculiarly constructed creasing plunger adapted for supporting the patch. in such position and embodying an auxiliary plunger and means for effecting the actuation of said auxiliary plunger to forcibly press the patch upon the gummed blankas the same reaches the bottom of the folding boX or trap and vsubstantially simultaneously .with the termination of the downward stroke of the creasing plunger. While Lthe said means may partake of various forms effective for accomplishing the desired functions, I will now, for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to comprehend .and practice the invention, describe in'connection with the accompanying drawings ,a preferred embodiment of means suitable therefor and as applied to and in combination with an yordinary envelope machine of the reciprocating type comprising means for supporting a stack of envelope blanks; means for gunnning the blanks consecutively on the back and seal flaps and around the window opening; means for consecutively feeding the gummed blanks to a position above a creasing plate; a vertically reciprocating creasing plunger rod, and means for folding the flaps of the gummed blanks to form completed envelopes, all of these operations and the means generally employed in machines of this character for eecting them beingfamiliar to those skilled in the art. For the sake of simplicity, therefore, I have in the accompanying drawings illustrated somewhat diagrammatically only those portions of the envelope machine requisite to a clear understanding of my invention.

ln the said drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an envelope machine embodying my invention as aforesaid, certain parts being broken away for the` sake of clearness and other parts being shown in vertical section, and Fig. 2 is a similar view certain parts, however, being shown in different positions than in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical longitudinal section through the patch cutting and transferring mechanism and adjacent parts; Fig. 4 is a similar view but with certain of the parts in a different position, and Fig. 5 is a front elevation of these parts in the position shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged view partially in vertical section of the creasing plunger rod actuating mechanism and adjacent parts: Fig. 7 a top plan view of the creasing plunger showing a patch in position therein, and Fig. 8 a further enlarged vertical section thereof on the line 8-8 in Fig. 7 looking in the direction vof the arrows. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary top plan view of the patch cutting and transferring mecha nism, creasing plunger and adjacent parts; Figs. 10 and 11 enlarged detail views showing respectively in side and front elevation certain portions of the patch transferring mechanism, and Fig. 12 a view in front elevation of a preferred form of cutting knife removed from the machine. Like numerals are used 'to designate similar parts in the several gures.

Referring now to the drawings the envelope machine shown therein comprises the usual frame 1 supporting a bed 2 adjacent the forward end of which that is, toward the left hand side of the sheet in Figs. 1 and 2) is an elevator 3 serving to support a stack of envelope blanks beneath the vertically reciprocating gumming dies 5 which are actuated by mechanism including a plunger 6 and suitable linkage and levers arranged to reciprocate it in the ordinary manner, the dies being arranged to descend on the topmost blank of the stack and deposit a layer of gum upon the flaps thereof and around the window opening in the blank, it being of course understood that this opening has been formed in the blank prior to its introduction into the machine. The mechanism also comprises a stripping plate 8 which serves to strip the blank from the dies as it is carried upward during the reverse stroke of the latter, and a reciprocating carriage 9 which selves to transfer the gummed blank from beneath the stripping plate to a creasing plate 10 beneath the vertically reciprocating creasing plunger 12. hereinafter more particularly described, which operates todrive the blank downwardly through the creasing plate to the :folding bed or trap 13 where the flaps are pressed and folded down into position bv suitably actuated folding ,fingers 14 in the well known manner. Mechanism (not shown) is also usually provided for transferring the completed envelope from the trap to a suitable drier from which it is removed after a predetermined period of time, all of these operations and the means ordinarily employed to effect them save the peculiarly constructed plunger utilized in my invention. beinewell known and thoroughly understoodrby those skilled in the art.

For the adaptation of a reciprocating envelope machine of this general t'vpe tol the production of window envelopes inaccordance with my invention I provide and combine therewith various means and instrumentalities, a preferred embodiment of which will now be described.

PZN/iger mechanism.

The preferred form of creasing or main plunger which I employ and which is substituted for the plain rectangular plunger ordinarily utilized in reciprocating envelope machines, comprises a rectangular base 15 of proper size to force the envelope blank through the opening in the creasing plate and provided with a boss 16 for the reception of the lower end of the creasing plunger rod 17. This rod in the operation of the machine is reciprocated in any`- suitable man ner, conveniently through llinkage 1S as besl shown in Fig. 6, a guide rod 19 on which slides a sleeve 20 connected with the plunger rod being preferably arranged to prevent disalignment of the latter through the angularity of the force exerted thereon b v tlr.` linkage.

The base of the plunger is provided with a preferably rectangular opening 22 extending into the base from the rear edge there of,.which opening is slightly smaller than the size of the patch to be employed, so that the latter is capable of resting on the marginal edge of the opening which thus a'ords a convenient support thereforas best shown in Figs. 7 and 8 where the patch is designated as P. ln vertically aligned relation with this opening is positioned an auxiliary conveniently rectangular plunger 2li which is slightly smaller than the opening so as to afford suitable clearance between the walls thereof and the auxiliary plunger `when the latter is depressed as hereinafter described, and for resiliently supporting the auxiliary plunger from the main plunger the latter is preferably provided with a plurality, conveniently a pair, of laterally spaced yarms 25 extending' over and above the auxiliary plunger through each of which loosely extends a stud 26 having its lower end secured to the plunger and its upper end provided with ay head 27 between which and the upper surface of the arm is positioned a spring 28 which thus normally sustains the weight of the auxiliary plungerl Means are also provided for effecting vertical movement of the auxiliary plunger with respect to the main plunger which may conveniently comprise a lever 30 extending transversely `of the main plunger and pivoted on a horizontal pivot stud 3l extending through a downwardly directedy offset or third arm 32 integral with the lever and a bifurcated lug 33 -preferably formed integral with the main plunger. The longer arm of this lever, that is, the one which extends toward the' rear of the ma'- chine, is preferably vbifurcated at its end to receive the'upper end of a post 35 which extends upwardly from the auxiliary. plunger preferably about the center7 thereof and which may also freely extend through a suitable opening in an arm 25 similar to the arms 25 which thus forms a guide for the post. rlhe opposite or forward arm of the lever is adapted to engage on its under side with a headed spring-pressed stud 37 which passes vertically through a guiding boss 38 formed integral with the plunger, a small coil spring Blbeing seated withina cavity formed in this bossand beneath the head of the stud. The lower end of the stud 37 extends entirely through and normally projects below the under face of the main i plunger, the several parts being soarranged that sufficient pressure exerted on this projecting end of the stud is effective to rock the lever 30 on its pivot and depress the auxiliary plunger in opposition to the resistance of the springs 28. Furthermore, the length and adjustment of the several springs are preferably so gauged that the under surface of the auxiliary plunger will normally substantially align with that portion of the upper surface ofthe base 15 which surroundsthe aperture 22 asbest shown lin Fig. 48 while theunder faces ofthe larms 25, A2.57am*sufficiently removed `from the' upper surface of the 'auxiliary plunger to permit the latter to bey lifted for" a suitaA` ble distance above its normal position by de` pressing the forward end of the lever 30 for a purpose and in a manner to be hereinafter `lever are of unequal length so that if the stud 37 bemoved upwardly at'a given speed to thereby elevatethe adjacent arm ofthe lever, the post andin turn the auxiliary plunger will be depressed at a relatively greater speed by reason of their attachment to the longer arm of the lever.

To enable certain portions of the transferring mechanism to pass beyond the front edge of the aperture 2Q/'in the operation of bringing a patch beneath the auxiliary plunger, the main plunger is convenientlyY pro'- vided witha pair of laterally'spaced slots 40 extending transversely therethrough for a sufficient distance to permit the transferring means to carry the patch to proper posi# tion without striking the main plunger. l

The function and operation of theseseveral parts will hereinafter more fully appear in connection with the' description o'fthe operation of the machine.

Patch cutting mechanism.

Suitable means are provided forsevering individual patches as required from a web W drawn from a roll Rof transparent orv translucenty paper which is supported on a horizontal shaft -iournaled in suitable br'ackets45 extending rearwardly fromthe'machine and secured to any convenient part thereof, for example and as shown to the transversely extending frame bar l. These brackets are laterally spaced apart suificientlvfto accommodate the roll which is of width equal` to the length of the patch to be used, andare laterally odset from'the` centerl line of the machine so that the web as drawn fromthe rolliwill be in alignment with that portion of the envelope blank, asit Ais fed beneath the creasing plunger, to which the kpatch is to be attach ed, acondition rendered necessary by the fact that the window opening in the ordinary window envelope is not in they center thereof but usually adjacent the lowery left hand corner. 1

The web is drawn downwardly and forwardly from the rolly and arranged to pass under a horizontal guide roll 4.6'andthencey between a pair of coacting feed rolls 47 and 48, journaled in the brackets, either or both rolls being preferably slightly corrugated in order t'o firmly grip the web. Means are provided for imparting anintermittent rotating motion to the feedk rolls for the purpose of rprojecting the web forwardly `at each actuation of the rolls for a distan'ceequal to the width of the patch desired, and for this purpose I prefer to driv'e'the rolll f7-.through the medium of a mutilated ygear Osuitably actuated from a drive shaft 5l geared or otherwise connected to the main drive shaft of the machine in any suitable manner, not shown. In the form of the invention illustrated the gear 50 is provided with teeth extending about one-third of the way around its periphery, the `rest of the face of the gear being blank while the pinion 52 carried by the shaft supporting the roll 47 is conveniently provided with three toothed segments and three short blank spaces therebetween as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, so that when the constantly rotating gear 5() meshes with one of the toothed segments of the gear 52 the latter, and in turn the roll 47, will be rotated substantially one-third of a revolution after which the blank spaces on the two ears willcome opposite each other and the roll be withheld from movement until the toothed section of pinion engages the following toothed segment of gear 52. ln this way for every complete revolution of the gear 50 the gear 52 and in turn the roll 47 will be rotated through substantially one-third of a revolution, and as the opposite end of the roll shaft `is connected througha gear' 54 with a pinion 55 on the shaft supporting ythe roll 48, the latter will partake of a corresponding movement thereby effecting a forward projection fora predetermined distanceof the web which is gripped between the rolls. It will be obvious that the means just described constitute a simple and effective way of bringing about the forward projection of the web in predetermined lengths in properly timed relation with the speed .of the main drive shaft of the machine. l

-As it is requisite, owing to the thinnessv of the patch paper employed, to effect a very fine adjustment between the rolls 47 and 48 in order to insure a positive feed of the web, `I preferably provide means for adjusting the pressure between the rolls, conveniently by journaling the shaft of the lower roll 48y in boxes 57 which tit into and are vertically slidable in suitable ways 58 formed in the brackets, each box being supported on an L-shaped adjusting member 59 which rests between the under surface of the box and a cap 60 secured to the bracket. The portion of the member between the boX and the bracket is very slightly tapered as best lshown in Fig. 5 and the member adj ustably `secured in position by gib screws 61 one of `which extends through the downwardly turned end of themember and into a threaded bore in the cap., and the others against its surface, so that by suitable manipulation of these ,screws the member may be forced inwardly 'to raise the. box and in turn the roll or retracted to produce an opposite e'ect thus permitting very exact adjustment of the pressure between the rolls.

As. the'web isl projected forwardly from the rolls it passes onto a supporting table 65 carried by the brackets and provided with a transversely extending slot 66 open at its upper end and adapted to receive the vertically reciprocatory cutting knife 67 which is ei'lective to cut off the patch from the web. Preferably this knife, which is formed of thin tempered met-al, comprises `a cutting edge 68, beveled upwar llyT and outwardly in opposite directions from its center as best shown in Fig. 'l2 and a substantially rectangular upper portion provided with eyes 69 lfor the attachment of lifting springs 70 hereinafter described. I have found that a f knife comprising a cutting edge of the character described is particularly well adapted for severing the peculiar paper used in the formation of the patches since in its descent thereon it first contacts with the paper at the center and then simultaneously cuts outwardly in opposite directions with a shearing effect` whereby the pressure on the paper is equalizcd and any tendency toward disaligninent of the web which might occur if the paper were cut from one edge to the other with an ordinary knife of the guillotine type is avoided.

The knife is of course of sufficient width to entirely sever the web from edge to edge and is preferably'supported between a pair of plates 7l, 72, the extreme lateral edges being engaged in suitable vertically positioned guides 73 the upper ends of which are secured to a transverse member 74 carried by the bracket and the lower ends suitably spaced above the table 65.

Suitable means are provided for actuating the knife and the plates which may preferably comprise a vertically extending post 75 secured at its lower end vto the upper part l of the knife and passing freely upwardly through the transverse member 74, a collar` 76 carried by the post limiting its upward movement by contact with the member. Above the member the post is provided with a head 7 7 whichzis cooperative with a finger 78 extendingfrom a boss 7 9 rotatably carried by a transversely extending sha-ft SO which is journaled in the brackets 45. This 1 boss is also provided with arearwardly extending arm 82 carrying a cam roller 8S at its extremity which is operative `to engage a cam 84 rigidly secured on the shaft 5l and rotatable therewith. Preferably I arrange means for loosely holding the end of the l end to a bracket Se carried by the frame of the machine and at its lower end yto the linger 78 to cause the cam roller S3 to follow the cam 84, which latter is of suoli shape as to oscillate the boss at a proper time in they cycle of operations of the n'iachine so as to depress or retract the knife.

To a tlord means 'whereby relative vertical movement; may take place when required between the plates 71 and 72 moving unitarily and the knife, l preferably provide the former with upwardly extending arms which are turned inwardly and arranged to support the upper ends of the spri. gs 70, thelower ends of which are secured'in the eyes 69 of the knife, the plates being suitably secured together conveniently by rivets 91 so placed as to limit the possible rela-r tive upward movement of the blade with respect to the plates, it being of course un derstood `that wl'iatever be the means employed for securing the plates together the saine will be of such construction to main? tain the plates in relatively spaced relation to permit the knife to readily slide therebetween.

lilith the several parts constructed as described it will beapparent that when the post is depressed the action of the linger, the plates andllrnife will together initially move downward until the plates contact on opposite sides of the slot 66 with `the surface of the web resting on they table 65 thereby arresting their further progress land holding the web firmly while the knife/is free to enter the slot and complete its full downward stroke to sever Vthe patch.` (lon-` versely on the upward movement of the linger from its lowerrnost position the knife is withdrawn first from the slot andthe plates then lifted from the table entirely clear of the forward edge of the web .adjacent the rear side of theknife and of the patch which has been severed from the web and rests on the table. Instead of arranging the lower edge of plate 72 to contact directly with the web. l may in the preferred construction and as shown, provide the table with a. plurality of depressions 98 adjacent the rear Aface of the knife in which are secured small flat sin-.ings 94 arranged so their free ends will normally proiect slightly above the surface of the table as shown in Fig. 4t. and l may secure to the rear face of the plate a plurality of spaced substantiallyL-shaped feet 05 preferably one above each of these springs so that when theI plates are elevated as shown in Fini. #t the springs and feet form a sub4 stantially il-shaped passage for the entrance of the web` the springs on the descent of the plates being` depressed by the feet from their normal position to that shown in Fig. 3. The arrangement of these parts in the manner described I have found assists in Pato/i. transferring means.

For the purpose of transferring the severed patch from its position on rthe table G5 to a point beneath the auxiliary plunger- Qst, suitable means arranged to grip the patch while on the table and carryv it forward to the desired point are provided and whilesaid means may be of any suitable construction l vprefer to use substantially the form of mechanism now to be described.

l therefore preferably provide a vpair of forwardly extending, laterally spaced ways 100 rigidly supported. conveniently 4from thebrackets and in which a transversely extending carrier plate 101 is arranged to horizontally reciprocate. F or effecting this movement ofthe plate l prefer to secure to abifurcated lug 102 formed thereon, an offset rearwardly extending link '104 the rearmost eitremityof which is pivoted toy a downwardly and forwardly curved arm 105 integral with a boss 106 pinned `or otherwise secured to thefshaftBO so as to turn therewitln and l arrange means for effecting the oscillation of the shaft at Suitable times in the cycle of operation, conveniently by means of a crank 10'.7 carrying a cam roll 108 cooperative with the surface of a suit-` able cani 109 rotated by the shaft 51. A,

spring 110 is arranged in some convenient way so as to cause the cam roll to at all tiniesfollow the face of the cam, preferably by securing one end of the spring to'an army 111 projecting radially upward from the shaft andthe rother end ofthe spring to a suitable point on `one of the brackets. Under these conditions it `will rkbe obvious that a reciprocating motion will be imparted tothe carrier `plate su'liiciently great to carrv it from a point substantiallyover the table 65` to 'a point substantially over the auxiliary plunger.

The carrier plate 101 is employed to support suitable grippers, besty shown in Figs. 10 and 11. which are operative to seize the forward edge of the patch and drag it 'to the desired position beneath the creasing plunger when the plate moves forwardly. One of these grippers is preferably placed adjacent cach of the ends' of the plate anc are entirely similar save for the modification obviously'necessary to enable them to work adjacent opposite ends of the plate a description of one of them` for exampleN that on the right hand side of themachine when viewed as in Fig. 5, will sufice for both. llach gripper `comprises a down-- wardly projecting plate 115 having its upper endftnrned over the surface of the carrier plate` 101 and secured thereto by they suitable screws. The lower part 116 of the plate is cut away on its inner side so as to decrease its width and the extremity thereof directed horizontally rearwardly thus :providing a. toe 117, and secured to the forward face of the upper part of the plate, as

by a` screw 118, is a forwardly projecting lug 119 to which is pivoted, by a horizontally extending pivot screw 120, a rearwardly and downwardly curved claw 121 having an L-sha-ped end 122 co-operative with the rear end of the toe 117. The claw is preferably formed integrally with the inner end of a sleeve 123 which is rotatably supported on the stationary pivot screw between the head thereof and the face of the lug 119, and preferably formed integrally with the outer end of the sleeve is a bell crank lever 124, the lower arm of which carries a laterally projecting elongated trip roll 125 andy the upper arm a` short cam roll 126, a spring 128 being coiled about the head of the pivot screw and arrangedso as to `continually force the claw downwardly to bring the L thereof into engagement with the toe 117.;

Also pivotally supported on the lug 119 and above. the roll 126 is a rearwardly projecting finger 130 which is constantly urged downwardly through a spring 131 interposed between the linger and a convenient portion of the lug, this finger adjacent its pivot being provided with a suitable cam notch 132 adapted to receive the roll 126 under certain conditions of operation. y

Near the forward end of the adjacent way 100 yis a downwardly depending post 135 l provided at its lower extremity with an in-` wardly directed trip 136 having a curved cam surface 137 arranged in the path of the trip roll 125 in such manner that as the carrier platenears the end of its forward movement the roll will engage the vcam surface and be lifted upwardly to in turn lifty the claw away from the toe 117 and engage the roll 126 in the cam slot 132. This slot is so shaped as to thereafter retain the roll therein to maintain t-he claw in elevated position see Fig. 4e) until the rear end of the finger is lifted, conveniently by contact with an inwardly projecting trip 133 carried by a lug 139 rigidly secured as by screws 140 to the under side of the adjacent way 100 toward the rear end thereof.

tact with the creasing plunger' rod 17 or the boss 16.1 preferably cut the same away as at 145 to afford the necessary clearance.

Operation.

It will be understood that in the operation of an envelope machine embodying means and instrumentalities in substantially the form hereinbefore described, a stack of envelope blanks of proper shape and having the window openings cut therein are supported on the elevator 3 with the surface which is to form the inside of the envelope, upward. lThe gumming dies descend consecutively on the uppermost blank which is4 thus gurnmed around the window opening and the liaps and raised on the upward stroke of the die to the stripping plate 8 from whence it is conveyed rearwardly by the conveyer 9 vto proper position on the creasingl pla-te 10 beneath the creasing plunger 12, the movement of which is so timed as to bring it above the plate when the envelope is moved thereon.

l/Vhile these several operations have been in progress and preferably about the time that the gumming operation takes place, the web `W of glassine paper drawn from the roll R has been projected forwardly onto the table through the intermittent action of the rolls 47 and 18, the relative position of the blanks and teeth on the mutilated gears 50 and 52 being such that after the movement of the feed rolls ceases, the cam 84 becomes effective to depress the knife and adjacent plates 71, 72, the latter serving to steady the web while the knife severs the patch.

Substantially simultaneously with the severance ofthe patch the carrier vplate 101 supporting the grippers has moved rearwardly with the claw 121 in elevated position in Fig. d) until contact of the linger 130 with the trip 133 raises the trip to release roll 126 Aand allow the L-shaped end of the claw to descend on the forward end of the patch projecting slightly over the front edge of the table 65 and under which the rear end of the toe 117 has passed. Thus the forward edge of the patch is gripped securely between the claw and toe of one of the grippefs adjacent each of the side edges of the patch.

The carrierplate now begins its reverse or forward movement., which is preferably substantially contemporaneous with the rearward movement of the envelope blank, in its traverse from gumming position to the creasing plate, while the creasing plunger rod meanwhile continues its upward movement and approaches the limit of its up stroke. Previously, however, to that limit being reached. the forwardly projecting end of the lever 30 caried by the main plunger is brought into engagement with a suitable. preferably adjustable stop, conveniently in the form of a stop screw 150 carried by a bracket 151 secured to the frame of the machine. This stop is operative to slightly depress the said end of the lever to thereby elevate the other end and in turn the auxiliary plunger 24 slightly above its normal position (see Fig. 1) so that when the'plunger rod reaches the limit of its upward movement thus bringing the marginal edge. of the opening Q2 of the main plunger substantially into the plane of the forwardly moving patch, the latter can be drawn over said opening and beneath the auxiliary plunger, the depending portion of the grippers pass ing ends of the latter and into the slots a() in the main plunger. As the carrier plate 101 approaches the end of its forward travel, the

trip roll 125 through contact with the cam surface 137 is raised to lift the claw from the patch just as the carrier attains the end of its movement and at the same time the roll 126 enters the cam slot 132 which permits the linger-130 to descend from its raised posit-ion and lock the roll in the slot to hold the claw in elevated position during the return or rearward stroke of the carrier pla-te as already described.

The creasing plunger iod now begins its downward movement and as the pressure on the forward end of the lever 30 is gradually released the auxiliary plunger 24: descends until it contacts or substantially contacts with the upper surface of the patch horizontally supported on the marginal edges of the aperture 22 and out of contact with the subjacent blank, in which position the patch and auxiliary plunger remain during the major portion of the descent of the main plunger which is effective in the usual manner to force the blank through the creasing plate to turn the fla-ps vertically upward and to carry the blank in that condition downwardly into the folding box.

As the main plunger nears the limit o-f its downward movement the projecting end of the stud 37 contacts through the envelope with the trap 13 forming the bottom of the folding box and is thus kmoved upwardly relatively to the downwardly descending main plunger to actuate lever 30 and depress the auxiliary plunger relatively downward with respect to the main plunger, and, owing to the dissimilarity in length of the horizontal arms of the lever' 30, at a relatively greater speed. so that the auxiliary nlunger becomes effective, substantially simultaneously with the ending of the down stroke of the main plunger, to positively and forcibly press the patch. which has meanwhile been carried down in front` of the auxiliary plunger through the aperture 22, to the gummed surface of the blank adjacent the window opening.

The reverse or upward movement of the plunger rod now being initiated, the main plunger. carrying the auxiliary plunger. is lifted clear of the folding lingers 14, the

auxiliary plunger under the influence of its supporting springs returning to normal. position as ythe main plunger risesand relieves the pressure on `the stud 137. The folding lingers are then operated` in the ordinary manner to fold and press the Haps into place thus completing the envelope whichis eject-` ed from the `folding box by a downward movement. of thel trapand generally transferred to drying mechanism (not shown). The cycle of operation so far as one envelope blank and its corresponding patch are concerned having now been completed, the creasing plunger rises until it clears the creasing plate after which another blank is` broughtinto position thereoverand a new cycle initiated.y

It will be observed that during the operation of the machine the individual patch is supported in spaced relation but proper vertical alignedregistration .withthe enve-r lope blank from the time when the creasing plunger begins to descend until the blank has been carried down into the folding box and the creasing plunger has substantially completed its downward stroke, at which` time the patch .is positively applied to the blank through the action of the auxiliary plunger. The maintenance ofthe 'patch out of contact with the blank and application thereof thereto at the completiony of the creasing operation I believe to be broadly new, and l therefore do ynot intend to conline myself to any particular means for accomplishing that result, although in practice l have found the means herein illustrated and described are `well adaptedtherefor.

Moreover, while l have herein illustrated and described with considerable particularity a preferred embodiment of my invention as embodied in an organized envelope machine, I do not thereby in any way desire or intend to limit myself to any specific construction or arrangement of parts, as means and instrumentalities other than those to which I have referred maj/,under certain conditions, be utilized if desired for accomplishing the various functionsr and operations and likewise, suitable modications may be made in the design, construction and details of arrangement of the various elements which I have illustrated and described as employed in my said preferred embodiment without in any way departing from the spirit` and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. u

Having thus described my invention, l claim and desire to protect byLetters Pat ent of the United States:

1. A machine for making window envelopes comprising means lfor supporting an envelope blank` means for gumming'the blank on the back and seal iiaps and around the window opening therein, a creasing plunger, means rfor feeding the gummed blank to a position beneath the plunger means for intermittently feeding a Web of paper toward the creasing plunger, means for severing the web to form an individual patch', means for transferring said patch to a position above and in vertical alignment with the blank as it rests beneath the plunger7 and means carried by the plunger for positively applying the patch to the blank substantially concurrently with the termination of the down stroke of the plunger.

2. A machine for making Window envelopes comprising means for supporting an envelope blank, means for gumming the blank on the back and seal flaps and around the Window opening therein,` a creasing plunger, means for feeding the gummed blank to a position beneath the plunger, means for intermittently feeding a Web of paper in a. direction opposite to the travel of said blank from thel gumming means, means for severing the Web to form an individual patch, means for transferring said patch to a position above, out of contact and in vertical alignment with the blank as it rests beneath the creasing plunger, and means comprising an auxiliary plunger carried by the creasing plunger for applying the patch to the blank substantially concurrently With the termination of the down stroke of the creasing plunger.

3. A machine for making window envelopes comprising means for supporting an envelope blank, means for gumming the blank on the back and seal flaps and around the Window opening therein, a creasing plunger, means for feeding the gummed blank to a position beneath the plunger, a folding box beneath said plunger, means for intermittently feeding a Web of paper to Ward the creasing plunger in a direction opposite to the travel of said blank from the gumming means, means for severing the Web to form a patch, means for transferring said patch to a position spaced from, above and in vertical alignment With the blank as it rests beneath the creasing plunger, and means carried by and relatively movable with respect to the creasing plunger for positively applying the patch to the blank as the latter rests on the bottom of the folding box.

4. A machine for making Window envelopes comprising a vertically reciprocatory creasing plunger, means for moving a gummed envelope blank beneath said plunger, means for transferring a patch to a point above the blank as it restsbeneath the plunger, and positively operated means carried by the plunger for applying the patch to the blank substantially contemporaneously with the. termination of the down stroke of the plunger. 5. A machine for making Window envelopes comprising a vertically reciprocatory creasing plunger, means for moving a gummed envelope blank beneath said plunger, a folding box into Which said plunger is adapted to Vcarry said blank, means for feeding a web of paper toward the plunger, means for severing said web to form an individual patch, means for transferring said patch to the creasing plunger when above the envelope blank, means for supporting said patch out of contact with the blank during the major portion of 'the descent of the plunger, and positively operated means for applying the patch to the blank as the latter rests on the bottom of the folding box.

6. A machine for making Window envelopes connL rising a vertically reciprocatory creasing plunger, means for moving a gummed-envelope blank beneath said plunger, a folding box into which said plunger is adapted to carry said blank, means for transferring an individual patch to said creasing plunger While the latter is above the blank, means for supporting said patch out of contact with the blank during the major portion of the descent of the plunger, and means comprising an auxiliary plunger carried by the creasing plunger adapted to positively apply the patch to the blank as the lat-ter rests on the bottom 'of the folding box.

7. A machine for making Window envelopes comprising a vertically reciprocatory creasing plunger, means for moving a gummed envelope blank beneath said plunger, a folding box into which said plunger is adapted to carry said blank, means for forming an individual patch from a web of patch paper, means for transferring said patch in a direction opposite to the travel of said blank as it is moved to beneath the creasing plunger to a position above and out of contact vvith the blank, means for maintaining the patch in such position during the major portion of the descent of the creasing plunger, and positively operated means for moving said patch downwardly relative to the creasing plunger and applying it to the blank as the latter rests on the bottom of the folding box.

8. A machine for making Window envelopes comprising a vertically reciproca` tory creasing plunger, means for moving a gummed envelope blank beneath said plunger, means for forming an individual patch from a Web of patch paper, means for transferring said patch to the creasing plunger While the latter' is above the blank, means for supporting the patch out of contact With the blank during the major portion of its descent, and means carried by the creasing plunger for bringing the patch into contact With the blank substantially simultaneously with the termination of th down stroke of the plunger.

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9. ln a machine for making window envelopes, the combination of a reciprocatory creasing plunger', means for transferring an envelope blank to a position therebeneath, means for transferring a patch to the plunger above the blank, and means carried by the plunger for applying the patch to the blank substantially simultaneously with the termination of the stroke of the plunger in one direction.

10. A machine for making window en velopes comprising a reciprocatory creasing plunger having an opening, an auxiliary plunger carried by the creasing plunger and supported in alignment with the opening, means for transferring a giunmed envelope blank to a point adjacent the creasing plunger, means for transferring an individual patch to the creasing plunger and aligned with the opening, and means for moving the auxiliary plunger through the opening to apply the patch to the blank substantially contemporaneously with the termination of the creasing stroke of the creasing plunger.

11. A machine for making window envelopes comprising a vertically reciprocatory creasing plunger having an opening, an auxiliary plunger carried by the creasing plunger, means for normally supporting the auxiliary plunger with its lower surface in substantial alignment with the upper edge of the opening, means for transferring a gummed envelope blank to a point beneath the creasing plunger, means for transferring an individual patch to the creasing plunger above the opening, means for lifting said auxiliary plunger away from said opening to permit the patch to be positioned thereover by the transferring means, and means for positively moving said auxiliary plunger downwardly with respect to the creasing plunger to carry the patch through the opening and against the blank substantially contemporaneously with the termination of the down stroke of the creasing plunger.

12. In a machine for making window envelopes, a creasing plunger having an opening, an auxiliary plunger carried by the creasing plunger and aligned with said opening, yielding means supporting said auxiliary plunger, and means for moving the auxiliary plunger into the opening against the resistance'of said yielding means.

13. In a machine for making window envelopes, a creasing plunger having an opening, an auxiliary plunger carried by the creasing plunger and yieldingly supported in alignment with said opening, and means comprising a lever extending transversely of said creasing plunger cooperative at one end with the auxiliary plunger and at the other end with a movable stud extending below the lower face of the creasing plunger for moving said auxiliary plunger into said opening when said stud is actuated.

lei.. In a machine for making window envelopes, the combination of a reciprocatory creasing plunger having an opening, an auxiliary plunger mounted on the creasing plunger and aligned with said opening,

means for normally supporting said auxiliary plunger above the opening during the major portion of the down-stroke of the creasing plunger, and means operative to raise the auxiliary plunger with respect to the creasing plunger as the latter approaches the end of its up-stroke.

15. In a machine for making window envelopes, the combination of a vertically reciprocatory creasing plunger, an auxiliary plunger carried by said creasing plunger, means for yieldingly supporting said auxiliary plunger above the lower face of the creasing plunger during the major portion of the down stroke of the latter, means for raising said auxiliary plunger with respect to said creasing plunger as the latter approaches the end of its up-stroke, and means for depressing said auxiliary plunger with respect to said creasing plunger as the latter nears the end of its down stroke.

16. In a machine for making window envelopes, the combination of a reciprocatory creasing plunger, an auxiliary plunger carried thereby, means for yieldingly supporting said auxiliary plunger from the main plunger, and means for effecting relative movement of said auxiliary plunger with respect to said creasing plunger at a predetermined point in the stroke of the latter.

17. In a machine for making window envelopes, the combination of a vertically reciprocatory creasing plunger. an auxiliary plunger carried thereby, means for normally supporting said auxiliary plunger in stationaryy relation with said creasing plunger, and means for imparting to the auxiliary plunger a relatively rapidi downward movement with respect to the creasing plunger as the latter approaches the end of its down stroke.

y 18. In a machine for making window envelopes, the combination of a'vertically re ciprocatory creasing plunger, an auxiliary plunger carried thereby, means for normal ly supporting the auxiliary plunger in stationary relation with the creasing plunger, means for imparting to the auxiliary plunger a relatively rapid downward movement with respect to the creasing plunger as the latter approaches the end of its down stroke, and means for imparting to the auxiliary plunger a relatively rapid upward movement with respect to the creasing plunger as the latter approaches the end of its upstroke.

19. The method of forming a window envelope which comprises the steps of gumming an envelope blank, bending the flaps of the blank to a position substantially at right angles to the body thereof, bringing the blank to a supporting surface, positively applying the patch to the blank While the latter is supported on such surface, and thereafter folding the flaps of the blank substantially parallel vvith the face thereof to form the completed envelope.

20. The method of forming Window envelope blank which comprises the consecutive steps of suitably gumming an envelope blank, bending the flaps of the blank to a position normal to the body thereof While maintaining an individual patch in alinement with but spaced from the Window opening in the blank, moving the blank to a supporting surface, applying the patch to the blank substantially as the latter' reaches such surface and folding the fla-ps of the blank substantially parallel With the face thereof to form the completed envelope.

2l. The method of forming a Window envelope which comprises the steps of suitably gumming an envelope blank having a Window opening therein, bending the flaps of the blank to a position substantially at right angles to the body thereof While maintaining an individual patch in alinement With but spaced from the Window opening, bringing the blank to a supporting surface, positively applying the patch to the blank While the latter is supported on such surface, and then folding the flaps of the blank substantially parallel With the face thereof to form the completed envelope.

22. The method of forming a Window envelope which comprises the steps of gumming a Window envelope blank on the back and seal flaps and around the Window opening, forming an individual patch, bringing the patch into alinement With the opening but spaced from the blank, bending the flaps substantially normal to the body of the blank While maintaining the patch spaced therefrom, bringing the blank to a supporting surface, positively applying the patch to the blank While supported on said surface, and then folding the back and end flaps of the blank substantially parallel to thek face thereof to form the completed envelope.

23. The method of forming a. Windon7 envelop which comprises gumming a Window envelope blank on the back and seal flaps and around the Window opening, forming a patch adapted to cover the Window opening from a continuous strip of patch paper, moving said patch and said blank in opposite directions until the patch is in vertical alignment With the Window in the blank, bending the flaps of the blank substantially normal to the body thereof` and moving the blank to a supporting surface While maintaining the patch out of contact With the blank, positively applying the patch to the blank to cover the Window opening, and folding the flaps of the blank substantially parallel with the front thereof to form a completed envelope.

2l. The method of forming a Windowv envelope which comprises supporting adjacent a creasing station in an envelope machine a Window envelope blank having a coating of gum adjacent the Window opening therein, bringing a patch into aligned but spaced relation with said opening and said gummed surface, moving the blank and the patch from the creasing station While maintaining said relation between the blank and the patch and simultaneously bending the flaps of the blank substantially normal to its body portion, bringing the blank to rest, then positively applying the patch to the gummed surface so as to cover the Window opening, and thereafter folding said flaps substantially parallel with the body of the blank so as to form a completed envelope.

c 25. The method of forming a Window envelope which comprises gumming a Window envelope on the back and seal flaps and around the Window opening, bringing a patch into alinement with the opening but spaced from the blank, bending the flaps substantially normal to the body of the blank, bringing the blank to a supporting surface While maintaining the patch spaced from the blank, applying the patch to the blank to cover the Window opening While the blank is supported on said surface and then folding the back and end flaps of the blank substantially parallel to the face thereof so as to form the completed envelope.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 28rd day of January, 1922.

rnnnnnick n. annonauinn. 

